U.S. patent application number 11/227153 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-22 for integrated electrosurgical cart and surgical smoke evacuator unit.
Invention is credited to Leonard Ineson.
Application Number | 20070066970 11/227153 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37885209 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070066970 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ineson; Leonard |
March 22, 2007 |
Integrated electrosurgical cart and surgical smoke evacuator
unit
Abstract
An electrosurgical cart for use during surgery to support a
surgical smoke evacuator unit comprises a first shelf for receiving
and retaining a surgical smoke evacuator unit thereon. There is a
substantially upright frame for structurally supporting the first
shelf. There is also a plurality of wheels for rolling contact with
a floor. An electrical control panel is mounted the electrosurgical
cart, for controlling the surgical smoke evacuator unit. An
electrical cable permits the transmission of electrical signals
from the electrical control panel to the surgical smoke evacuator
unit. A throughpassage on the front of the electrosurgical cart
permits the flow of air from the inlet on the cart via a corrugated
flexible hose to the filter on the smoke evacuation unit located on
the bottom shelf.
Inventors: |
Ineson; Leonard;
(Mississauga, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LEONARD INESON
UNIT#33
2280 MUNN'S AVENUE EAST
OAKVILLE
ON
L6H 3L1
CA
|
Family ID: |
37885209 |
Appl. No.: |
11/227153 |
Filed: |
September 16, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
606/34 ;
606/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 18/1206 20130101;
A61B 2218/008 20130101; A61B 2017/00199 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
606/034 ;
606/001 |
International
Class: |
A61B 18/04 20060101
A61B018/04 |
Claims
1. An electrosurgical cart for use during surgery to support a
surgical smoke evacuator unit, said electrosurgical cart
comprising: a first shelf for receiving and retaining a surgical
smoke evacuator unit thereon; a substantially upright frame for
structurally supporting said first shelf; a plurality of wheels for
rolling contact with a floor; an electrical control panel mounted
said electrosurgical cart, for controlling said surgical smoke
evacuator unit; and, means for transmitting electrical signals from
said electrical control panel to said surgical smoke evacuator
unit.
2. The electrosurgical cart of claim 1, wherein said means for
transmitting electrical signals from said control panel to said
surgical smoke evacuator unit comprises an electrical control cable
electrically interconnected between said electrical control panel
and said surgical smoke evacuator unit.
3. The electrosurgical cart of claim 2, further comprising an
aperture in said substantially upright frame for receiving said
electrical control cable therethrough.
4. The electrosurgical cart of claim 3, further comprising a
coupling member mounted on said cart at said aperture in said
substantially upright frame, said coupling member having an inlet
for coupling the hose of an electrosurgical pencil thereto, a
throughpassage for permitting the flow of air and surgical smoke
therethrough, and an outlet for coupling a secondary hose thereto,
which secondary hose is also coupled to the inlet of said surgical
smoke evacuator unit.
5. The electrosurgical cart of claim 4, further comprising a
secondary hose having a first end coupled to said outlet said
coupling member, and a second end coupled to the inlet a surgical
smoke evacuator unit.
6. The electrosurgical cart of claim 1, further comprising a second
shelf for receiving and retaining medical equipment thereon.
7. The electrosurgical cart of claim 6, wherein said first shelf is
a bottom shelf and said second shelf is a top shelf.
8. The electrosurgical cart of claim 7, wherein said substantially
upright frame structurally also supports said second shelf.
9. The electrosurgical cart of claim 1, wherein said electrical
control panel is mounted on said substantially upright frame.
10. The electrosurgical cart of claim 1, wherein said means for
transmitting electrical signals from said electrical control panel
to said surgical smoke evacuator unit comprises a remote control
unit.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to carts for use in medical
applications, such as surgery, and more particularly to such carts
that are used to carry electrosurgical smoke evacuators.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] During surgery, it is common for a surgeon to use an
electrosurgical tool, commonly known as an electrosurgical pencil
to cut tissue and coagulate blood vessels. The electrosurgical
pencil includes an electrode tip that is operated by means of a
cut-coagulate switch on the electrosurgical pencil, in order to
perform tissue cutting and cauterization as required. A wire lead
is connected at one end to the electrosurgical pencil. The other
end of the wire lead plugs into a co-operating electrical socket on
an electrosurgical unit (ESU), in order to supply power to the
electrosurgical pencil. The electrosurgical unit itself has
additional controls on it such as frequency, amplitude, suction
strength, and so on, used by the nurse or surgeon to control the
electrosurgical pencil.
[0003] During the cutting and cauterization processes, smoke is
generated, which must be removed from the surgery site for various
reasons. In order to draw surgical smoke away from the surgery
site, the electrosurgical pencil is typically clipped onto a smoke
evacuating tool that provides a suctioning function that draws the
surgical smoke away from the surgery site. Alternatively, the
electrosurgical pencil and smoke evacuating tool maybe integrated
into a single device. The smoke evacuating tool that is attached to
the electrosurgical pencil has an evacuation hose that plugs into a
co-operating air inlet on a surgical smoke evacuator unit.
[0004] During surgery, the electrosurgical unit is typically placed
on the top shelf of a wheeled cart that is located near the
surgeon. The surgical smoke evacuator unit is typically placed on
the bottom shelf of the wheeled cart. Accordingly, the the controls
of the electrosurgical unit are difficult to reach during surgery,
which is highly undesirable.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,310 issued May 21, 1996 to Ellman et al,
discloses a Mobile Cart for Electrosurgical Instruments and
Accessories Therefor. This mobile cart comprises a platform for
supporting an electrosurgical instrument or the like, on the top
shelf. An electrosurgical suctioning unit is disposed on the bottom
shelf. Other configurations of supporting electrosurgical equipment
are also possible. It can be readily seen that the electrosurgical
smoke evacuator on the bottom shelf is extremely difficult to
access during surgery, which is highly undesirable.
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a cart
for use during surgery to support a surgical smoke evacuator
unit.
[0007] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
cart for a medical smoke evacuator for use during surgery to
support a surgical smoke evacuator unit, so as to be in easy reach
for a surgeon during a surgical procedure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there
is disclosed a novel electrosurgical cart for use during surgery to
support a surgical smoke evacuator unit. The electrosurgical cart
comprises a first shelf for receiving and retaining a surgical
smoke evacuator unit thereon. There is a substantially upright
frame for structurally supporting the first shelf. There is also a
plurality of wheels for rolling contact with a floor. An electrical
control panel is mounted the electrosurgical cart, for controlling
the surgical smoke evacuator unit. There is also means for
transmitting electrical signals from the electrical control panel
to the surgical smoke evacuator unit.
[0009] Other advantages, features and characteristics of the
present invention, as well as methods of operation and functions of
the related elements of the structure, and the combination of parts
and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon
consideration of the following detailed description and the
appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, the
latter of which is briefly described herein below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The novel features which are believed to be characteristic
of the electrosurgical cart according to the present invention, as
to its structure, organization, use and method of operation,
together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be
better understood from the following drawings in which a presently
preferred embodiment of the invention will now be illustrated by
way of example. It is expressly understood, however, that the
drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only,
and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the
invention. In the accompanying drawings:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view from the front of the first
preferred embodiment of the electrosurgical cart according to the
present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view from the rear of the first
preferred embodiment electrosurgical cart of FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the first preferred
embodiment electrosurgical cart of FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a front end elevational view of the first
preferred embodiment electrosurgical cart of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a back end elevational view of the first preferred
embodiment electrosurgical cart of FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a sectional top plan view of the first preferred
embodiment electrosurgical cart of FIG. 1, taken along section line
6-6 of FIG. 3; and
[0017] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the control panel of the first
preferred embodiment electrosurgical cart of FIG. 1; and,
[0018] FIG. 8 is an enlarged front end elevational view of the
second preferred embodiment of the electrosurgical cart according
to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 8 of the drawings, it will be
noted that FIGS. 1 through 7 illustrate a first preferred
embodiment of the electrosurgical cart of the present invention,
and FIG. 8 illustrates a second preferred embodiment of the
electrosurgical cart of the present invention.
[0020] Reference will now be made to FIGS. 1 through 7, which show
a first preferred embodiment of the electrosurgical cart of the
present invention, as indicated by general reference numeral 20.
The electrosurgical cart 20 is for use during surgery to support a
surgical smoke evacuator unit 22, and also typically support an
electrosurgical unit 24.
[0021] The electrosurgical cart 20 comprises a first shelf 31 for
receiving and retaining the surgical smoke evacuator unit 22
thereon. The surgical smoke evacuator unit 22 maybe any type of
surgical smoke evacuator unit, and has an inlet 29 that
conventionally receives the corrugated flexible hose 25 from a
smoke evacuating tool 21 clipped to an electrosurgical pencil 23.
With the electrosurgical cart 20 of the present invention, the
flexible hose 25 from the smoke evacuating tool 21 is not connected
to the inlet 29 of the surgical smoke evacuator unit 22, as will be
discussed in greater detail subsequently. The power wire 27 of the
electrosurgical pencil 23 is electrically connected to the
appropriate socket on the electrosurgical unit 24, in a
conventional manner.
[0022] The electrosurgical cart 20 further comprises a second shelf
32 for receiving and retaining medical equipment thereon, such as
the electrosurgical unit 24, and/or any other necessary medical
equipment. As can readily be seen in the figures, in the first
preferred embodiment, the first shelf 31 is a bottom shelf and the
second shelf 32 is a top shelf.
[0023] The electrosurgical cart 20 also comprises a substantially
upright frame 40 for structurally supporting the first shelf 31 and
the second shelf 32. In the first preferred embodiment as
illustrated, the substantially upright frame 40 has a top end 42
and a bottom end 44, and forms the front of the electrosurgical
cart 20 and is solid, with no openings. Alternatively, the
substantially upright frame can have openings therein or could be
more of a skeleton type frame, if desired.
[0024] A plurality of wheels 50 are mounted on the electrosurgical
cart 20, specifically under the first shelf 31, for rolling contact
with a floor. At least one of the wheels 50, and typically two of
the wheels 50, have a locking means thereon to permit
electrosurgical cart 20 to be selectively locked in place, as
desired, to preclude it from rolling unwantedly.
[0025] An electrical control panel 60 is mounted on the
electrosurgical cart for controlling the surgical smoke evacuator
unit 22. The electrical control panel 60 is preferably mounted on
the substantially upright frame 40 so as to be readily accessible
to a doctor or nurse using the electrosurgical cart 20. As can be
best seen in FIG. 7, the electrical control panel 60 is a flat
touch pad type control panel, so as to be substantially impervious
to liquids, dirt, and so on. The electrical control panel 60 has a
plurality of buttons thereon, such as speed select, buttons for the
evacuating fan of the surgical smoke evacuator unit 22, and various
function buttons. As shown, but not necessarily, there are six
speeds ranging from five litres per minute to thirty litres per
minute, with each speed being independently selectable by touching
the appropriate button 62 on the electrical control panel 60.
Further, button 64 permits selection of standby status of the
surgical smoke evacuator unit 22, button 65 permits selection of
the manual function of surgical smoke evacuator unit 22, button 66
permits selection of the foot control for the surgical smoke
evacuator unit 22, button 67 permits selection of the remote
control for the surgical smoke evacuator unit 22, button 68 permits
selection of the lap function for surgical smoke evacuator unit 22,
and button 68 permits the surgical smoke evacuator unit 22 be
turned on and off. Other buttons with additional or alternative
functions for the surgical smoke evacuator unit 22 may also be
included on the control electrical control panel 60. Additionally,
indicator lights 61 are included on the electrical control panel
60. These indicator lights indicate the status of the filter of the
surgical smoke evacuator unit 22.
[0026] The electrosurgical cart 20 also comprises means for
transmitting electrical signals from the control panel to the
surgical smoke evacuator unit 22. In the first preferred embodiment
as illustrated, the means for transmitting electrical signals from
the electrical control panel 60 to the surgical smoke evacuator
unit 22 comprises an electrical control cable 70 electrically
connected interconnected between the electrical control panel 60
and the surgical smoke evacuator unit 22.
[0027] The electrosurgical cart 20 further comprises an aperture 49
in the substantially upright frame 40, as can be best seen in
sectional FIG. 6, for receiving the electrical control cable 70
therethrough. The electrical control cable 70 extends from the from
the electrical control panel 60 to a co-operating jack 72 on the
surgical smoke evacuator unit 22.
[0028] A coupling member 80 is mounted on the electrosurgical cart
20, specifically in the substantially upright frame 40 at the
aperture 49, so as to permit a passage through the substantially
upright frame 40. The coupling member 80 has an inlet 81 for
coupling the flexible hose 25 of the smoke evacuating tool 21
thereto. Alternatively, a pre-filter unit (not specifically shown)
could be mounted on the inlet 81 of the coupling member 80, and the
hose 25 of the smoke evacuating tool 21 could be coupled to the
inlet of the pre-filter unit. The coupling member 80 also has an
outlet 82 for coupling a secondary hose 28 thereto. The secondary
hose 28 has a first end 28a coupled to the outlet 82 of the
coupling member 80, and a second end 28b coupled to the inlet 29 of
the surgical smoke evacuator unit 22. The coupling member 80 also
comprises an internal throughpassage 84 for permitting the flow of
air and surgical smoke therethrough. The coupling member 80 is
preferably located adjacent the top end 42 of the substantially
upright frame 40 so as to permit a person standing upright to
readily couple the hose 25 of the smoke evacuating tool 21 to the
inlet 81 of the coupling member 80 without bending over.
[0029] As can be readily seen in the figures, and is readily
apparent from the description, the electrosurgical cart 20 permits
ready control of a surgical smoke evacuator unit 22 disposed on the
first shelf 31 through use of the electrical control panel 60,
which is conveniently located for use by a doctor or nurse, during
surgery.
[0030] Reference will now be made to FIG. 8, which shows a second
preferred embodiment of the electrosurgical cart according to the
present invention, as indicated by general reference numeral 220.
The second alternative embodiment electrosurgical cart 220 is
similar to the first preferred embodiment electrosurgical cart 20
except that the means for transmitting electrical signals from the
electrical control panel 260 to the surgical smoke evacuator unit
(not specifically shown) comprises a remote control unit 260. The
remote control unit 260 is mounted on the substantially upright
frame 240 of the electrosurgical cart 220 by means of a hook and
loop fastener system 262, such as that sold under th trade name of
Velcro.TM., or by any other suitable means. In this manner the
remote control 260 can be used in place on the electrosurgical cart
220 or can be placed in any other convenient place at the surgical
site, or can be held in the hand of a nurse or doctor.
[0031] As can be understood from the above description and from the
accompanying drawings, the present invention provides an
electrosurgical cart for use during surgery to support a surgical
smoke evacuator unit, wherein the controls for the electrosurgical
unit are on the cart, so as to be in easy reach for a surgeon
during a surgical procedure, all of which features are unknown in
the prior art.
[0032] Other variations of the above principles will be apparent to
those who are knowledgeable in the field of the invention, and such
variations are considered to be within the scope of the present
invention. Further, other modifications and alterations may be used
in the design and manufacture of the electrosurgical cart of the
present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of
the accompanying claims.
* * * * *